Credit: Gorodenkoff/Adobe StockPhila. Court System Pushed to Adapt as Justices Greenlight Changes to Pa.'s Civil Jury Selection Rules
The rule upends a longstanding practice in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas of conducting civil jury selection under the supervision of court staff rather than the judge. While some in the legal community have questioned the necessity of the requirement, others have applauded the change.
January 08, 2025 at 06:29 PM
5 minute read
What You Need to Know
- The Pennsylvania Supreme Court approved a rule requiring that judges be present for jury selection in civil cases.
- The rule upends Philadelphia's longstanding practice of using court staff to oversee voir dire.
- Response from the legal community has been mixed.
Pennsylvania's judges have a new responsibility.
The state Supreme Court on Tuesday approved a rule change mandating that a judge be present for jury selection in civil cases unless the litigants opt out of the requirement.
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